Consultations

As part of the legislative review process of the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, this discussion paper will guide engagement with various stakeholders to find out where we can improve the Act, and where we can build upon successes.

As part of the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada wants to update the regulations that control how Canada prepares for, and responds to, ship-source oil spills. Transport Canada wants your feedback on changes we’re considering for some of these regulations.

Transport Canada is reviewing the proposed acquisition of Viterra Limited (Viterra) by Bunge Limited (Bunge) in accordance with the Canada Transportation Act. We want your input to help inform the review process.

Transport Canada wants to modernize the VORR to make it faster, easier, and more effective for local authorities to implement restrictions.

Transport Canada is consulting on whether to regulate long-term anchoring.

Consultation regarding adding new vessel types to the Arctic Shipping Safety and Pollution Prevention Regulations.

From June 17, 2023 to August 16, 2023, the changes we’ve proposed for the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations were available for public comment through the Canada Gazette, Part 1. This report summarizes what we heard during this public consultation.

Transport Canada wants to better understand the possible impacts of labour shortages in Canada’s marine transportation sector and also wants your feedback on possible solutions.

We want your views on introducing new requirements on installing and using engine cut-off switches on certain recreational vessels.

An anchorage is a good place to anchor a vessel. Transport Canada is considering giving the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority more authority to manage commercial anchorages in the Salish Sea. (Feb 22 – April 23, 2023)

The Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations explain the rules for vessels that navigate or operate in some Canadian waters.

Each year, Transport Canada receives applications from local authorities to create or update navigation restrictions in order to make navigation safer, to protect the environment and to protect the public interest.

We use this yearly process to update the regulations and make other small changes.

We’re holding this consultation to collect feedback from key stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, about these policy changes.

Transport Canada would like to hear your views on potential changes to the Canada shipping Act, 2001. We want to hear from Indigenous peoples and marine stakeholders that are directly involved in or affected by marine shipping. Your feedback will support discussions and decisions on the proposed legislative changes.

Currently, the requirements for inspecting, designing, constructing, equipping, and certifying aquaculture barges that carry or accommodate crew are outlined in 13 different regulations and standards made under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. Transport Canada is proposing an alternative option to the design, construction, and safety equipment requirements.

Canada tracks and manages marine traffic via three different regulations. Transport Canada wants your feedback on creating a new regulation to replace these three existing regulations.

Transport Canada is proposing changes to the Contraventions Regulations . We want your thoughts on adding new contraventions to the Marine Transportation Security Act , the Marine Transportation Security Regulations and the Domestic Ferries Security Regulations .

We want to modernize Canada’s regulations to make sure that the marine transportation security framework (system of laws that keeps marine transportation in Canada safe) continues to be appropriate, effective, and can respond to modern threats and risks to the marine transportation system.

Transport Canada wants your feedback on a proposed framework for determining and applying administrative monetary penalties up to the maximum penalty amount of $250,000 per violation.

The federal government is considering legal changes to enable the safe and appropriate use of alternative response measures to address oil spills in Canada, regardless of the spill source. We want your feedback on the potential changes.

Through this consultation, you have the chance to provide feedback on changes that Transport Canada is considering that will allow the operation of propeller-driven surfboard-type vessels and regulate their construction.

Through this consultation, you have the chance to provide feedback on changes that Transport Canada is considering to address vessel engine noise emissions.

Transport Canada understands that supply chain issues have wide-ranging impacts and would like to hear the views of all Canadians. We want to continue this important conversation and gather additional comments, questions, and feedback from the public.

Transport Canada wants feedback on updating the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (2020 submission)

Transport Canada’s Vessel Registry includes information on more than 46,000 vessels in the Large Vessel Register and over 25,000 vessels in the Small Vessel Register.

As we continue modernizing our services, we want your feedback on changes we’re proposing for our vessel registry services in 2023.

Between August 13, 2021 and January 25, 2022, Transport Canada held a public consultation on proposed changes to the vessel registry services. This report summarizes what we heard during this public consultation.

Transport Canada is proposing to introduce a regulatory charge (fee) to finance a proposed Vessel Remediation Fund that would help the government to deal with problem vessels (abandoned, wrecked or hazardous vessels).

We want your feedback on the proposed charge.